Jar opener

ABSTRACT

An apparatus is disclosed for mechanically rotating lids of jars wherein a jar is placed on the frame of the apparatus and a pair of cupped opposing arms, attached to the frame, are forced by resilient means to clamp the jar tightly against movement while a lid rotating means, having a high coefficient of friction and mounted on the frame and disposed above the pair of cupped opposing arms, engages the lid of the jar for rotation.

United States Patent 11 1 Polasek 1 May 28, 1974 JAR OPENER FOREIGNPATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1 lnvemo" Polasefi Route BOX 2783, 966,34]3/1950 France 8l/6 Corpus Chr1sti, Tex. 78415 Primary Examiner-AlLawrence Smith [22] 1972 Assistant Examiner-Roscoe V. Parker [2]] Appl.No.: 279,506 Attorney, Agent, or FirmW. F. Hyer, Marvin B.

Eickenroht [52] US. Cl 81/332 81/333, 81/6 1511 1:11.01 B67b 7/14 [57]ABSTRACT 1581 Field 01 Search 81/32, 3.31, 3.32, 3.33, An apparatus isdisclosed for meshamcaliy rotating 31 53 3 1 R lids of jars wherein ajar is placed on the frame of the apparatus and a pair of cuppedopposing arms, at- [56] References Cit d tached to the frame, are forcedby resilient means to UNTED STATES PATENTS clamp the jar tightly againstmovement while a lid rol 313 271 8/1919 D 81 6 tating means, having ahigh coefficient of friction and l4714l5 10/1923 a mounted on the frameand disposed above the pair of 11856182? 5/1932 Carruthers.......,..17231/333 x CUPPFid arms engages the of the Jar for 2,656,084 1953Filander 81/32 x 2,897,699 8/1959 Anderson, Jr. 81 332 10 Claims, '7Drawing Figures J iI '1 11- 13g 29 g g I 29 2 ---{HL-:: :2 1: 1-

r I 33 -3 3-"15 I 4 2 E -L 1 "r" 1 E I E 1 S i J i D d l z i E 27 I0 E 1E 5 i 5 z I I l 1 5 i j JAR OPENER This invention relates to apparatusfor mechanically rotating lids of jars to facilitate their placement orremoval.

There are many instances where manual placement or removal of a jar lidis not desirable, such as where a housewife encounter a jar with a stucklid or where she is opening and closing a large number of jars during acanning operation. Thus, there is a need for a relatively small andreliable electrically operated home appliance which can be used by ahousewife for automated jar lid removal or placement when needed. In theprior art numerous mechanical apparatus have been suggested to rotatelids of jars, both to fasten or loosen them. However, these prior artapparatus have been deficient in one or more respects. For example, manyof the prior art apparatus, such as US. Pat. No. 1,856,827, issued to E.H. Carrothers; US. Pat. No. 2,897,699, issued to O. D. Anderson, Jr.;and US. Pat. No. 2,005,186, issued to H. T. Griswold are limited as tothe size jar lid which can be rotated because the lidengaging portion ofthe apparatus are designed to fit over the top of the jar and grasp theside part of the jar lid before the lid is torqued. Thus, these devicesare limited as to how far the lid-engaging portion can extend inwardlyor outwardly to accomodate very large or very small jar lids.

Also, although the prior art discloses clamping devices for holding ajar while the lid is being rotated by the device, these devicesgenerally do not provide an even holding force. In some cases there isno way to regulate the amount of force being applied to the jar and itis conceivable that excessive pressures might be applied, therebybreaking the jar. Also, some of the prior art holding devices requirethat the person operating the clamp continue to hold the clamp, becausethere was no way to lock the clamp in position about the jar. Examplesof such are US. Pat. No. 2,879,699, issued to O. D. Anderson, Jr.; andU.S. Pat. No. 1,856,827, issued to Carrothers. Also, many of theseholding devices are further limited in that they cannot accomodate awide range of sizes of jars.

It is the object of this invention to provide apparatus for mechanicallyrotating jar lids which can clamp and hold various sizes of jars androtate a wide range of sizes of jar lids without adjustment or change ofthe apparatu's.

It is also the object of this invention to provide such apparatus inwhich jars can be securely held with a substantially even force andwithout exerting too great a pressure on the jar, and in which the jarsbeing held can be locked in place until the jar lid has been loosened ortightened by a desired amount.

Another object of this invention is to provide such apparatus in whichonly a relatively small amount of pressure need be applied by theoperator to engage the lid with sufficient holding force to permit it tobe rotated, and in which the complete operation can be completed by useof only one hand.

It is further an object of this invention to provide such apparatus thatcan be operated electrically and automatically, and can be used as ahome kitchen appliance.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become obvious tothose skilled in the art upon the review of the drawings and detaileddescription of the specification.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters are used throughoutto designate like parts:

Wherein FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of the jar lid rotator of thisinvention with a lid-engaging means in one position shown in solid linesand in dotted lines in another position on the lid of a jar;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the jar lid remover of FIG. I;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the jar lid rotator of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a top sectional view of the jar lid remover of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken at 5-5 in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken at 66 in FIG.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged elevation view showing one embodiment of thelid-engaging means of the invention in engagement with the lid of a jar.

Referring now to the drawings, in FIG. 1, the preferred form of lidrotating apparatus of this invention is illustrated as including a frame10 having a base plate 11 supported by suction cup feet 12 to preventinadvertent skidding of the frame. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 a resilientpad 13, made of, for example rubber, is mounted on a front portion (i.e.the left side in FIGS. 3 and 4) of frame 10 to support a jar J on whicha lid L is to be placed or removed. Frame 10 also includes fourupstanding support rods 14, two of which are mounted on base 11 on eachside of pad 13, and two of which are mounted on base 11 towards the rearof frame 10. Also mounted on base 11 is a pair of clamping arms 15 and16. As shown in FIG. 4, arms 15 and 16 are each pivotally mounted on oneend of base 11 by bolts 17 so that they can move from an open position,such as shown in dotted line in FIG. 4, to a closed position, such asshown in solid lines in FIG. 4, in which a jar J is clamped betweenthem. The other ends 15A and 16A of clamping arms 15 and 16 respectivelyare cupped in opposite directions to conform with the outside diameterof jar J. Cupped ends 15A and 16A include resilient pads 18, preferablyof rubber, mounted thereon to cushion the holding of the jar J and toprevent breaking of the jar.

Actuating means is provided for moving arms 15 and 16 between thepositions described with respect to FIG. 4 and to permit the arms tofirmly grip various sizes of jars without the need of adjustment foreach different jar diameter. The preferred form of this means isillustrated in FIGS. 3, 4, 5, and 6 as including a slide 19 mounted in atrack member 20, which is an inverted box-like member including anelongated slot 21 and mounted on base 11. Slide 19 is guided in slot 21by laterally extending wing members 22 and 23, as best shown in FIGS. 5and 6, and is movable back and forth along slot 21. Slide 19 may alsoinclude a roller 24. which extends to base plate and rolls on plate 11as the slide moves. The extent of roller 24 should be such that thevertical weight of the slide is supported on the roller and thewlngmembers 22 and 23 have some clearance with respect to the edges ofthe walls of member 20 forming slot 21, so that slide 19 can movewithout any, substantial interference. A stop, such as screw 20A isprovided in slot 21 to limit the backward movement of slide 19.

A pair of symmetrical lever arms 24 pivoted at each end, are connectedbetween slide 19 and arms 15 and 16 as shown in FIG. 4. Arms 24 areconnected together and to slide 19 by a pivot pin 25, and the other endof each of levers 24 are connected by pivot pins 26 to arms and 16.Thus, as slide 19 moves in slot 21, arms 15 and 16 will be moved betweenthe positions of FIG. 4.

Also, a handle 27 is mounted on base 11 and is connected through a Zshaped extension 27A to a spring 28 which is also connected to slide 19.Spring 28 provides a resilient tensioning means to resiliently urge theclamping arms against jar J when slide 19 is in the rearward, solid lineposition of FIG. 4. The tension of spring 28 should be sufficient sothat the holding force on jar J (provided by the coefficient of frictionof pads 18) is large enough to preventjar J from rotating when the lidis rotated, but should not be so large that the jar would be crushedwhen the spring is actuated. Also, the Z shaped extension 27A has anangular relation with respect to handle 27 so that when handle 27 is allthe way down and back (as shown in FIG. 3) spring 28 is extended in asubstantially horizontal plane (preferably such to slightly tensionhandle downwardly when in the rearmost position) and does not urgehandle 27 out of the FIG. 3 position.

A second plate 29 is slidably mounted on rods 14 above and spaced frombase plate 11, so that plate 14 moves up and down the rods, parallel tobase plate ll. Plate 29 may be mounted on rods 14 by hollow bushings 30which may be made of plastic and which freely slide up and down. rod 14,or on rollers, if desired. A handle 31 may also be provided on plate 29for moving it up and down on rods 14. As illustrated in FIG. 3, handle31 is pivotally mounted on plate 29 and fixedly con nected to a pair oflinkage arms 32A, which are in turn fixedly connected to a pair oflinkage arms 328. The last-mentioned linkage arms are pivotallyconnected to a pair of linkage arms 32c, which are in turn pivotallyconnected to the base.

As shown in FIG. 3, when plate 29 is raised to its uppermost positionlinkages 32B and 32C are substantially in line and help to support plate29 in this position. However, when plate 29 is lowered substantiallyparallel with plate 11, this linkage takes the dotted line position ofFIG. 3. To aid in the raising of plate 29, two rods 33 with coil springson them may be provided between base ll and plate 29 (with plate 29sliding down the rods) so that plate 29 when lowered is urged upwards.

As shown in FIG. 1, a motor M and gear box 0 are also mounted on plate29 to drive a shaft 34 on which is mounted a lid engaging and rotatingrubber member 35. An importantfeature of this invention is that thismember has a high coefficient of friction and may exten'd radiallybeyond'the top of lid L, as shown in FIG. 7, or the lid may extendradially beyond it, and it will still rotate the lid from the jar. Thus,many different sizes of jar lids may be rotated with just one member 35.It is preferred that member 35 be a suction cup so that an evacuatedspace 36 is formed between lid L and member 35, which further serves toaid in rotating the lid with enough force to remove it from the jar.

It is preferred that the motor M and gear box G combination be such thata low rpm and high torque is provided. Also, a switch S may beconveniently mounted on handle 31 to operate motor M as the handle isutilized.

In operation, a jar J, such as a Mason jar or the like, is placed on pad13 with handle 27 and arms 15 and 16 in the dotted line position of FIG.4. Handle 27 is then moved towards the solid line position of FIG. 4moving slide 20 towards stop 20A and pulling arms 15 and 16 about jar J.When arms 15 and 16 are securely around jar J which will be beforehandle 27 is fully in the solid line position (such as shown in FIG. 3),further movement of handle 27 toward the solid line position of FIG. 4will expand spring 28 until handle 27 is back and locked in the positionshown in FIG. 3. Handle 31 is then pushed down moving plate 29 andmember 35 downward until member 35 engages firmly against lid L. SwitchS is then activated to rotate lid L in the desired direction until it iseither loosened from or tightened on jar J. Handle 31 is then released,and plate 29 returns to its up position, and handle 27 is then moved tothe dotted line position of FIG. 4, moving slide 20 forward andreleasing jar J from arms 15 and 16.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that this invention is one welladapted to attain all of the ends and objects hereinabove set forth,together with other advantages which are obvious and which are inherentto the apparatus.

It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are ofutility and may be employed without reference to other features andsubcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of theclaims.

As many possible embodiments may be made of the invention withoutdeparting from the scope thereof, it is to be understood that all matterherein set forth (or shown in the accompanying drawings) is to beinterpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

The invention having been described, what is claimed is: v

1. An apparatus for rotating a lid with respect to a jar, comprising, incombination: a base; a pair of clamping arms pivotally mounted on saidbase, said arms having opposed cupped portions adapted to clamp a jarbetween them to hold it tightly against movement; resilient tensioningmeans connected to said clamping arms to resiliently urge said opposedcupped portions on said clamping arms against a jar when disposedtherebetween; actuating means for engaging and disengaging said clampingarms to respectively hold and release a jar, and for actuating saidtensioning means when said clamping arms are engaged to hold a jar; lidrotating means mounted on said base and disposed to engage only the topof a lid of a jar supported by said clamping arms, said lid rotatingmeans adapted to be in substantially uniform engagement with said lidand being movable between a first'position in which a jar may be placedbetween said clamping arms to a second position wherein said lidrotating means is in such engagement with the lid of such a jar; meansfor moving said lid rotating means between said first and secondpositions; and means for rotating said lid rotating means when engagedwith the lid of a jar to cause the lid to be rotated in a desireddirection.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said lid rotating means insubstantially a flat surface and is made of a material which has arelatively high coefficient of friction.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said lid rotating means is a suctioncup.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the lid rotating means is mounted ona plate guidably mounted on the base for movement toward and away fromthe base so as to move the lid rotating means between its first andsecond positions.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 further including a resilient means to urgesaid plate away from said base and thus the lid rotating means to itsfirst position.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 further including a handle for moving saidlid rotating means substantially horizontally down said guide means toengage a lid.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 further including means connecting saidhandle to said base, including pivotally connected linkage arms whichare adapted to assume fully extended, aligned positions when said lidrotating means has been moved to its first position.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said lid rotating means comprises anelectric motor, and a switch is mounted on the handle for starting andstopping the motor.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 further including symmetrical lever armspivotally attached at one end to said clamping arms with the other endof said symmetrical lever arms pivotally attached to said resilientmeans such that when said resilient means is put in tension, thetensioning force is equally divided between said symmetrical lever armsto provide equal clamping forces on said clamping arms.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 further including a yoke which is mountedon the base for sliding to and fro along a predetermined path and saidresilient means and said symmetrical lever arms are pivotally attachedthereto such that tensioning said resilient means causes said yoke toevenly tension said symmetrical lever arms.

1. An apparatus for rotating a lid with respect to a jar, comprising, incombination: a base; a pair of clamping arms pivotally mounted on saidbase, said arms having opposed cupped portions adapted to clamp a jarbetween them to hold it tightly against movement; resilient tensioningmeans connected to said clamping arms to resiliently urge said opposedcupped portions on said clamping arms against a jar when disposedtherebetween; actuating means for engaging and disengaging said clampingarms to respectively hold and release a jar, and for actuating saidtensioning means when said clamping arms are engaged to hold a jar; lidrotating means mounted on said base and disposed to engage only the topof a lid of a jar supported by said clamping arms, said lid rotatingmeans adapted to be in substantially uniform engagement with said lidand being movable between a first position in which a jar may be placedbetween said clamping arms to a second position wherein said lidrotating means is in such engagement with the lid of such a jar; meansfor moving said lid rotating means between said first and secondpositions; and means for rotating said lid rotating means when engagedwith the lid of a jar to cause the lid to be rotated in a desireddirection.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said lid rotating meansin substantially a flat surface and is made of a material which has arelatively high coefficient of friction.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2wherein said lid rotating means is a suction cup.
 4. The apparatus ofclaim 1 wherein the lid rotating means is mounted on a plate guidablymounted on the base for movement toward and away from the base so as tomove the lid rotating means between its first and second positions. 5.The apparatus of claim 4 further including a resilient means to urgesaid plate away from said base and thus the lid rotating means to itsfirst position.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5 further including a handlefor moving said lid rotating means substantially horizontally down saidguide means to engage a lid.
 7. The apparatus of claim 6 furtherincluding means connecting said handle to said base, including pivotallyconnected linkage arms which are adapted to assume fully extended,aligned positions when said lid rotating means has been moved to itsfirst position.
 8. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said lid rotatingmeans comprises an electric motor, and a switch is mounted on the handlefor starting and stopping the motor.
 9. The apparatus of claim 1 furtherincluding symmetrical lever arms pivotally attached at one end to saidclamping arms with the other end of said symmetrical lever armspivotally attached to said resilient means such that when said resilientmeans is put in tension, the tensioning force is equally divided betweensaid symmetrical lever arms to provide equal clamping forces on saidclamping arms.
 10. The apparatus of claim 9 further including a yokewhich is mounted on the base fOr sliding to and fro along apredetermined path and said resilient means and said symmetrical leverarms are pivotally attached thereto such that tensioning said resilientmeans causes said yoke to evenly tension said symmetrical lever arms.